Siegfried facts for kids
This page is about a famous hero named Siegfried. He is a main character in an old German story called the Nibelungenlied. If you are looking for the opera about him, see Siegfried (opera).
Siegfried (also known as Sigurd in Old Norse) is a very strong hero. He appears in the Nibelungenlied, a long poem written around the year 1200. One of his most famous deeds was killing a scary dragon named Fafnir. He also took the dragon's huge treasure, called the Nibelungenschatz.
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How Siegfried Became Invincible
After Siegfried killed the dragon, he bathed in its blood. This made his skin super tough, so he could not be hurt by weapons anymore. It was like having a magical shield all over his body!
Siegfried's Secret Weakness
But while he was bathing, a leaf from a linden tree fell. It landed on his back. The tiny spot covered by the leaf did not touch the dragon's blood. This meant that small area on his back was still normal skin. It was his only weak spot where he could be hurt.
Siegfried's Marriage and Betrayal
Siegfried wanted to marry a beautiful woman named Kriemhild. She was the sister of King Gunther, who ruled the Burgundians in Worms. But before he could marry her, Siegfried had to help King Gunther.
Helping King Gunther
King Gunther wanted to marry Brünhild, the queen of Iceland. She was very strong and powerful. Siegfried helped Gunther win against Brünhild. He used a special cloak that made him invisible during the fight. This helped Gunther trick Brünhild and win her hand.
The Argument and Death of Siegfried
After their weddings, Siegfried and Kriemhild lived in Siegfried's kingdom for some years. Later, they visited Worms again to see Kriemhild's family. Brünhild, King Gunther's wife, and Kriemhild started arguing. They argued about who was more important.
Kriemhild then told Brünhild that Siegfried had helped Gunther defeat her. She even showed a proof of Siegfried's victory. Brünhild became extremely angry. She decided that Siegfried had to die.
Hagen, one of King Gunther's men, carried out this plan. He killed Siegfried while Siegfried was drinking from a well during a hunt. This happened in the Odenwald forest. Hagen also took Siegfried's treasure from Kriemhild. He threw it into the Rhine River.
What Siegfried's Name Means
The name Siegfried in German has a special meaning. It means "victory peace."
Siegfried in Operas
Siegfried is such a famous hero that he appears in operas too! He is in two of the four operas in Wagner's Ring cycle. These operas were created by a famous composer named Richard Wagner.
Siegfried's Opera Appearances
The third opera in the series is called Siegfried. The fourth one is called Götterdämmerung. Originally, Wagner wanted to call the fourth opera "Siegfrieds Tod," which means "The Death of Siegfried." Wagner made some changes to the original story for his operas.
